Four Formula 1 titles in a row for Max Verstappen with Red Bull – but the farewell to design guru Adrian Newey caused a clear decline in performance over the course of the 2024 season. So there is no optimism for the Verstappens before 2025. Father Jos does not rule out a change for his son if the Red Bull proves unable to win.
Four titles in a row with Red Bull – Sebastian Vettel once achieved that too. Only to crash in the fifth year and lose to his much younger teammate Daniel Ricciardo. Vettel then went to Ferrari.
Even though there was a major change in the technical regulations in 2014 with the introduction of turbo engines, there are still some parallels to Max Verstappen’s current situation. Because the current dip in form, which probably not coincidentally overlaps with the departure of designer Adrian Newey, is causing numerous worry lines on the Verstappens’ foreheads.
“Red Bull has to build a car that is no longer so difficult to drive. If you look at the second half of 2024, you can’t be optimistic,” said father Jos Verstappen to the media group “Münchner Merkur/tz”.
He also sees it as a “fact” that his son’s car didn’t get any better after Newey left. Without the savior from the design department, Red Bull “has a big task ahead of it in 2025.”
Formula 1: Many question marks about Verstappen’s future
Newey announced his departure from the Red Bulls midway through the 2024 season and is now working for the competition at Aston Martin.
Added to this are the almost forgotten quarrels surrounding and with team boss Christian Horner. An employee had accused him of inappropriate behavior – an internal investigation was carried out, after which it was decided to stick with the Brit. Max Verstappen himself threatened to say goodbye to Red Bull at the time.
And then there are big rule changes for the 2026 season that will probably shake up the field. A good time for new challenges.
Jos Verstappen does not rule out an early departure for his son, whose contract does not expire until the end of 2028. “Everything is possible. He can stay at Red Bull if he sees sense in it. His goal is to be able to win races. If he thinks that that is no longer possible at Red Bull, there is no change either out of the question,” said the 52-year-old.